This Storm Season Every year as the seasons change, we often take for granted that our homes and all the contents in them will help see us through and are reliable on any given day. Yet, often when lightning strikes, or we experience wild weather, we lose power, experience power spikes and surges, and other inconveniences that put simply, relate to our changing environment and Mother Nature.

Did you know that nearly all home and contents insurance policies do not cover damage caused by power fluctuations unless lightning can be proven to be the cause? And of course, we cannot control what the weather decides to do.

Although direct lightning strikes to homes are reasonably rare, there are approximately 80,000 thunderstorms in Australia each year, presenting a large number of opportunities to experience power spikes and for your appliances to feel the effects of an unexpected weather event.

Alarmingly, damage costs to household goods from lightning are estimated at up to $10 million each year in Australia, and you don’t need to receive a direct lightning hit for there to be a dramatic surge or spike in the power entering your home or business, and potentially ruining your appliances and equipment.

The good news in all this is it can be very easy to help protect your expensive household goods by knowing about surge protection. Surge protection devices offer defence against unpredictable damage to expensive electrical goods like fridges, TVs, sound systems and computer equipment.

Surge protection devices are plugged directly into the individual power points in your home and then your precious devices plug straight into the surge protector.

For as little as $20 you can provide this protection for each of those items in your home that are often quite coveted – everyone loves a beautiful, double door, ice-­‐making fridge, or their flat screen high-­‐definition television. Imagine one of these items being ruined due to a power spike, or the life of the appliance being shortened due to frequent power surges?

A surge protection device offers two forms of protection; overload protection meaning the device cuts the power if you have accidently plugged in too many items into one power board; and surge protection, which means the surge protection device absorbs the large and damaging power surge and will often sacrifice itself to save your equipment. While a power surge may not always destroy your electrical item, it will wear your appliance down and reduce its life expectancy.

So this storm season, make sure you have a good power surge device protecting each of your household appliances. Don’t be one of the unlucky ones caught out having to replace expensive items, or be disappointed to learn your contents insurance doesn’t cover you against power surges. It’s pretty easy to organise and doesn’t need to cost the earth!

Crest is the maker of high quality power surge devices -­‐ view the full current range at www.crest.com.au